Antiglare lens for automobile headlights



A ril 24, 1928. 1,667,489

R. A. OSBURN ANTIGLARE LENS FOR AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS Filed June 19,1925 g\ 5 l5 4 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

u-NrrEo STATES. PATENT":

ROBERT A. OSBURN, F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO 1*.WILLIAMS, or BIRMINGHAM; ALABAMA.

An'rIGLAnn LENS. FOR Ao'noMonILE nnapmeiirs My invention relates to an.improved type of lens adapted to produce an anti-glare effect'fro-mheadlights, and particularly from the headlights ofautomobiles. V

My invention contemplates the utilization of a mirror or high reflectivebody carried by, or formed as an integral part of the lens itself and sodisposediwith relation to the source of light as to prevent theprojection of rays which will directly strike the eyes of an approachingdriver, and which are adapted to accomplish this important resultwithoutappreciably diminishing the efficiency of the headlight itself toilluminate the roadway. In other words, the mirror or 7 highly polishedreflecting surface, instead of deadening or absorbing the light rayswhich directly engage 1t, Wlll serve merely to deflectiiliein againstthe walls of the headlight reflector and project them upon the roadway.

My invention constitutes an improvement in my pending application,Serial No. 7.163, in which the deflecting mirror is mounted on ametallic support within the headlight. My present invention contemplatesforming the mirror in or as a part of the lens itself.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction andarrangementsof parts. which are hereinafter more. particularlydescribedby reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part ofthis specificatioin'and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a plain lens having a center panel thereof treatedto form a mirror.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental cross-sectional view through. a headlightequipped with the lens shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view looking at-the inner face of a lens havingan inclined mirror molded integrally therewith.

Fig. L is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewcorresponding I to Fig. 3 of a modified typeof mirror which is of oval tvpe disposed parallel with the inner face ofthe lens.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5. I Similarreference numerals refer to simi- 1211* parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illus trated show a conventionalheadlight reflector 1 containingan electric lamp 2' and any suitabletype of clampring 3 and bracket t for mounting a lens therein-f. It isto be. understood that the construction of the headlight and them-annerof mounting the lens may vary widely without. departure from. myinvention. I

' As shown in 1 and 2 I use alens 5 plain at its inner surface andIapply prefers ably within a circle'concentric with the lens and on theouter face thereof a suitable silvercoating. 6 which I cover with alacquer coating 7 to protect it fromv the weather. I prefer to form themirror with a diameter about forty per cent of the diameter of theopening in the headlight reflector, as I find that amirror of this sizewill act to intercept. the concentrated light rays tendingto pass outcentrally from the reflector and will throw them back against thereflector so that they will pass out around the mar,-

ginal edge of the mirror without real-loss of lighting efficiency butwithout the projection of theblinding rays into the eyes of anapproaching driver.

In Fig. 3 I show a modification of my invention, in which the mirror isformed in the inner side of a lens 8 which may have its outer surface ofany desired conformation. At the center of its inside face I provide aninclined ledge 9. which flares inwardly and downwardly and issupportedon the sides by webs 10 integral with the ledge and the lens itself. .Bythis arrangement the outer surface of the ledge, that is to say thesurface adjacent to the inside face of the lens, is spaced from thelatter face so that it can have applied thereto asilver coating 11 toform a mirror. The action of this mirror differs from that alreadydescribed in that the direct rays of light strikingit will be reflectedmore to the upper part of the headlight reflector and thence projectedmore downwardly so as to illuminate the roadway more brilliantlyimmediatelybelow and in front of the headlight, rather than to projectthe rays uniformly about the mirror.

In Fig. 5 I show a'further modification of v the internal mirror, whichhere is provided with an oval ledge 12 formed integral with andsupported by a web of uniform height rising from and integral with theinside face of the lens 14. This Web is interrupated below so as to giveaccess to the concave surface of the ledge for the application of asilver coating 15 thereto. The action of this lens will be to deflectthe rays more sharply tmrards the front end of the reflector 1 and givesa very satisfactory distribution of the light without a glare in frontof the headlight. Both of the lenses and 8 are provided with flattenededges 16 in order to prevent. their displacement by rotation in theheadlight.

Though I have described with great particularity the details of theembodiment of the invention herein shown, it is not to be construed thatI am limited thereto, as changes in arrangement and. substitution ofequivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the invention as defined in. the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what lclaiin. as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: i

1; An anti-glare lens for headlights having substantially at andconfined to the centcr zone of its inner surface a glass bracket shapedto present an upwardly inclined inir ror shelf and a mirror surface onsaid shelf adapted to reflect the rays of the light striking- 'itupwardly against the headlight reflector, the lens being unobstructedexcept for said i'nirro-r and the bracket support therefor.

2. An anti-glare lens having its outer surface substantially plane andhaving 1nolded on its inside surfacea raised integral downwardly andinwardly inclinedrefleeting surface which in part is spaced from thelens so as to give access between thelens and said reflector forsilvering the latter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

nonnnra. OSBU-RN.

